The lakeside road in North Lake Park represents two eras in Anderson County’s motorsport history: earlier sports car races and recurring events. The area also offers gently rolling countryside, a man-made lake and historic buildings with very different stories.
Landscape and Prairie Spirit Trail
Anderson County is in the Osage Cuestas region, characterized by gently rolling plains. The Prairie Spirit Trail State Park offers another regional point of interest: it opened in 1996 and runs through Anderson County. The landscape and the trail provide different perspectives—one highlights the terrain, the other a named route through the county. Anderson can therefore be experienced not only through individual buildings or events, but also through its landscape and the trails that cross it.
Lake Garnett and Motorsport History
Lake Garnett is a 48-acre man-made lake. Construction began on October 15, 1934, as part of a Civilian Conservation Corps project. Its size and the precise date construction began make its creation a distinct chapter in the area’s history: the lake is not just a landscape feature, but also the result of a named construction project.
In North Lake Park, the lakeside road served as a 2.8-mile course for nine SCCA-sanctioned sports car races from 1959 to 1972. KART go-kart races are held on the lakeside road twice a year. The comparison shows how things have changed over time without conflating the two activities: the historic events were sports car races held from 1959 to 1972; the KART races are a recurring event.
Other events also keep the motorsport tradition alive. The Lake Garnett Cruisers hold an annual car and motorcycle show featuring a procession or ceremonial lap around Lake Garnett. The Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival is also an annual event held in North Lake Park. Anderson County Fairgrounds is located in this park. If a particular race or event is the reason for your trip, check the dates in advance.
Buildings with a History
The Anderson County Historical Museum is housed in the former Longfellow School at 410 West 6th Street and Highway 59. The Anderson County Historical Society acquired the school building in 1993 for use as a museum. The site also tells a story of change: a school became a place dedicated to the county’s history.
In Greeley, the Valentin Gerth Cabin is at the heart of another layered story. Built in 1856, the cabin is considered the first white settlement in Anderson County and a hiding place for enslaved people. The original cabin was moved to the south side of Greeley and restored by the Anderson County Historical Society. Its construction date, historical significance and later preservation are closely connected.
Architecture Across Eras
The historic houses offer different ways to explore architectural forms and styles. The Sennett and Bertha Kirk House was built in 1913 in the Colonial Revival style. The Shelley-Tipton House dates to 1871; it is a two-story wood-frame house in the Italianate style. Their construction dates and architecture clearly distinguish the two houses.
The Harris House is a Late Victorian-style building. Each of its 44 windows features a tulip pattern in the brickwork and a tulip in the woodwork. Another detail can be found in the Harris House Carriage House: a Conestoga wagon belonging to the Manners family, dating to 1860. The history of the Harris House thus combines architectural details with an object from the region’s past. The Anderson County Courthouse was completed in 1902 and is among the county’s properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Seasonal Life in Garnett
The Garnett Farmers Market runs from May through October. If you would like to include the seasonal market in your travel plans, check the dates in advance. Alongside its landscape, architecture and motorsport, Anderson also offers a seasonal glimpse of everyday life in Garnett.
Discover more destinations: Garnett, Barber County, Harper County, Pawnee, Russell County, Butler, Neosho County, Riley County.
For the broader travel overview: Kansas.
